Catherine Sinclair (1800-1864) Background: Catherine Sinclair, Scottish novelist and writer, was born in Edinburgh on 17th April 1800. She was the fourth daughter and sixth of thirteen children of Rt [...]

Mary Erskine (1692-1707) Background: The Reformation dealt a serious blow to charitable educational provisions in Scotland. The seizure of church monies meant that bequests providing for education and relief were [...]

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, CBE (1912-2004) Background: Wilhelmina (Willie) Barns-Graham was born in St Andrews, Fife, on 8th June 1912 as the eldest child of Allan Barns-Graham and Wilhelmina Meldrum. Determined to [...]

Isabella Elder (née Ure, 1827-1905) "A synonym for open-handed though discreet philanthropy" Background: Isabella Elder was born in Hutchinson, Glasgow, in 1827 as the fourth and last child, and only [...]